Adjustable volume condiment dispenser

Abstract

An improved and variable adjustable condiment dispenser, and a related externally adjustable dispense handle, are provided for use in dispensing a variable but metered quantity of a selected viscous but flowable condiment, such as guacamole sauce, in a restaurant facility or the like, wherein the dispense handle is adjustably set at one of several different dispense volumes without requiring opening of the dispenser or sanitation thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A condiment dispenser, comprising:
 a reservoir for containing a selected condiment;   a pump within said reservoir and including a draw tube and a dispense tube; and   a lid mounted on said reservoir, said lid having a handle pivotally mounted thereon and reciprocal from the exterior of said lid to operate said pump, said handle being associated with a pair of adjustable stops at the exterior of said lid for limiting the handle stroke length for variably selecting the dispensed volume of the selected condiment without requiring removal of said lid and without compromising reservoir sanitation.   
     
     
         2 . The condiment dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said pump comprises a variable volume pump. 
     
     
         3 . The condiment dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said handle has a plurality of thumb screws carried thereby each having an asymmetric head rotatable with respect thereto, said thumb screws being located on said handle at the exterior of said lid; said heads being receivable in one orientation into and through a widened slot portion formed in said lid without interference, at least one of said heads being rotatable relative to said handle away from said one orientation to preclude reception into said widened slot portion whereby said at least one head comprises one of said stops engageable with said lid to define an end limit to handle reciprocation. 
     
     
         4 . The condiment dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said handle carries a bow with inturned ends at the exterior of said lid, said bow having a bight portion received through said handle, and said inturned ends of said bow extending into one of a plurality of aligned pairs of open side ports formed in said handle, said bow defining said stop engageable with said lid to define an end limit to handle reciprocation depending upon the specific pair of open side ports into which said inturned ends are received. 
     
     
         5 . The condiment dispenser of  claim 4  wherein said bight portion of said bow is received through said handle adjacent said pivotal mounting of said bow to said handle. 
     
     
         6 . The condiment dispenser of  claim 1  wherein each of said draw tube and said dispense tube has a check valve associated therewith. 
     
     
         7 . A condiment dispenser, comprising:
 a reservoir for containing a selected condiment;   a variable volume pump within said reservoir and including a draw tube and a dispense tube each having a check valve associated therewith; and   a lid mounted on said reservoir, said lid having a handle pivotally mounted thereon at the exterior of said lid and reciprocal to operate said pump, said handle being associated with a pair of adjustable stops at the exterior of said lid for limiting the handle stroke length for variably selecting the dispensed volume of the selected condiment without requiring removal of said lid and without compromising reservoir sanitation;   said handle having a plurality of thumb screws carried thereby each having an asymmetric head rotatable with respect thereto, said heads being receivable in one orientation into and through a widened slot portion formed in said lid without interference, at least one of said heads being rotatable relative to said handle away from said one orientation to preclude reception into said widened slot portion whereby said at least one head comprises one of said stops engageable with said lid to define an end limit to handle reciprocation.   
     
     
         8 . A condiment dispenser, comprising:
 a reservoir for containing a selected condiment;   a variable volume pump within said reservoir and including a draw tube and a dispense tube each having a check valve associated therewith; and   a lid mounted on said reservoir, said lid having a handle pivotally mounted thereon to operate said pump, said handle being associated with a pair of adjustable stops for limiting the handle stroke length for variably selecting the dispensed volume of the selected condiment without requiring removal of said lid and without compromising reservoir sanitation;   said handle carrying a bow with inturned ends, said bow having a bight portion received through said handle, and said inturned ends of said bow extending into one of a plurality of aligned pairs of open side ports formed in said handle, said bow defining said stop engageable with said lid to define an end limit to handle reciprocation depending upon the specific pair of open side ports into which said inturned ends are received.   
     
     
         9 . The condiment dispenser of  claim 8  wherein said bight portion of said bow is received through said handle adjacent said pivotal mounting of said bow to said handle.